Lebanese Khanjar
Lebanese Khanjar
Arab
Ottoman Lebanon (Lebanon)
Early 20th century (ca. 1900 - 1925)
Steel, horn, coral, bone, wood, brass
Blade: 17,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 29,2cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 32,1cm
Collection Date: 2019
Collection Number: 34
Ex. American Private Collection
A fine khanjar from likely the South Lebanese city of Jezzine, widely known for their manufacture of cutlery. Many of their wares include horn handles carved in the form of birds and fish. These knives are particularly noted for their intricate and beautiful colorful inlays.
This example has a straight double- edged steel blade with a series of central fullers. Within the medial ridge are three inserts of circular corals. The horn carved hilt in the form of a double ibis. Intricately inlayed with a network of coral and bone along with brass tacks and circular inlays decorating the wings, chests, and necks of the ibises. Two bangles hang between the bill and the neck, one composed of coral, the other bone. Minor loss to some of the inlays on the hilt. The crossguard is brass with circular coral inlay plugs. The wooden sheath is covered in brass sheet chased and stippled in linear, geometric, and floral designs. Attached are two iron belt rings. A quality old example with an excellent blade, alluring ibis curvature, and complex hilt inlays.